The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-09
Select STORY.
GRANDMA'S EASTER.
From HaJper's Bazdr.


story begins-0nly little rosy child playing in the
fields by the brook in the tiny village of Focdng
Hills where she was born.
Old Parson Burr her father, had spent all his ne-
tive life there for in his day the wisdom OF age was
honored and trusted, a young minister or young
doctor not trusted to deal with mortal pangs or
sins. This was inconvenient; it would have been
impossible If this opinion had existed beyond Feed
ing Hills for people will be born young "Do the
best that ye may; but here the parish held on to
their hoary head and seemed TO think he could
! never die.
Then he had been to college, and not another man
in the township could boast that proud distinction;
and, to add to his superiority. he had married
Judge Ludlows only child. from st. Adams; a deli
-cae dreary good little creature who faded out OF
life early, and left behind rosy little Hannah as
remembrance and token of her mothers short
Span.
Pgrson burr did not try TO educate his ittle gfl
10 her mothers level; he hired house-keeper, who
saw to the child's clothes and Polly Barton who
kept the school at the corners taught her the ele-
mentary branches.
She was simple tender-hearted, pretty child and
grew up into girlhood little changed
81 should think, Parson Burr" snapped Miss Lois
Marvin, the spinster who took upon herself the CEN
sorsbip of this small town among the mountains.
"that you'd have wanled 10 Gddieaie Hammer some
like her ma
"And what good did it do my Mary. Miss Lois that
She could read Latin and the Greek tonsues Nay :
think rather that the close study onoined upon her
by her parents wore upon her frail body, and con-
sumed its vital energies too soon, wonld not have
my girl removed from the duties of life in her
prime. l hold thatn woman can rule her house,
and be q duteous wife and mother. better without
abstruse learning than with It,"
The Parsons solemnity awed Miss Lois; she never
interfered further with Hannah's training
When she was twenty, Deacon Burr the largest
farmer in Feeding Hills died suddenly; he was a
widower with no children, and all that wide, we'll
stocked farm, with its stretch of meadow and NOW
ing. its sweet hill pastures, aud its acres OF forest
sweeping daFkly up the mountain snuFs. q lFeasHFe
Of lumber and fre=wood, was left to nephew,
Stephen Burr, Of Rutland, young fellow who had
acquired some Fepute as sign.painter already.
He came as stranger 10 Feeding Hills, and took
possession ofthe small gray farm house lying In
front of its great barns in carly spring.
He was no relation of the parson though he bore
the same name; but the custom of those days,
he made acquaintance at once with his pastor, and
asked his advice about the farm.
my young friend" said Parson Burr solemnly
"have you a prospect of marriage?"
sNo sir" And the shy silent youth colored to the
roots of his Crisp dark hair at this surprising aues
tion.
"Then counsel you to look about you for kind.
ly young woman fitted to make a good housewife.
Scripture saith it is not good for to be alone
and would add unto that word. as exegesis, es-
pecially upon farm" The parson smiled grimly
as If he had been joeose.
But in the mean time. sir?" stammered Stephen.
'ii"A 'ie.e % mIuo" VI ptoiession'
Sg " '"e uaiisI "non. you can set eeuipoF-
aslis " HElh fo4
PH! o.ePHeH qiG ~! near fHc H'naoWa ~ she east
siqe VI we p4'sq slqqf' t'id HeaIes' 70 tle young
mans ohair looRed ioll upon tue hafh yaFa, which
slopea teWaTq inc SCUM. INC hafn doors were wide
npel' ahq upon tne siil spoou hahiiah' as pretty
picture US one could wish, her dark stufskirls short
enough to show the delicate eetana ankles that she
inherited rom her moLher' her hiue calico short
gown with It's sleeves rolled up to the elbow dis
playing her dimpied miikwhite arms, STAT sun
bonnet iailen oacS from her mead so that mass OF
waving SILKY hair snoweh It's coils OF dark chestnut
cleaning IN the iuil sun ana making lit crown for
inc iar' rosy wihsome iaee oeiow she was feeding
the chickens from her apronful OF corn and the
shise and speekled host crowded about her feetand
liew up qgainst hef While she beat lhe# back,
laughing till every sweet dimple danced in check
and chin, and the innocent blue eyes shone with
mirth stephen felt that the parsons advice was
very good
So the Widow Larkin ruled over the Burr farm
that summer, but Parson Burr found himself -hoist
with his own petard" when Stephen came counting
to the parsonage; and he was forced 10 admit that
he could not object TO such reasonable and we'll
H-a9 s9nn7laH, and one 50 docile in the matter Of
taking his counsel.
One son was born Of this marriage, and Parspn
died shortly after baOtized his
by the name OF Philip Meianohthon-a name given
Dy the parsoh 5 own WISH
A pretty boy rhil was nut SO addicted to making
ehareoal or cnaik on any smooth surface ne
coulu iine' anu 80 h'ue gwen 70 handlness at the
cnoies =, .ne iAtm, ol !" s.uuies d. 'ne Fhiase
9enooi, s''a' ms Aio''ief pfiue III her Doy was
"oInueu
f-Ai s.o'tel ~ Saiu eseRhen, Mlef III
pVasea , ~, n1f sosios :, l4He pIins.a yes
'4,,..S, s'Aa H.o ~ se4
li.o, pun, W "a"'eu iot NM ~ De